Hans-Dieter Flick, coach of FC Barcelona, was suspended for one game after the legendary 3:4 against Inter Milan in last season’s Champions League. UEFA has now published the reasons for the verdict – there was a heated argument during a doping control.
After a 3-3 draw in the first leg, Barcelona lost the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals 3-4 at Inter. The spectacular game also caused heated situations in the catacombs of the Milan stadium. In the end there was a one-game ban against the former national coach, which was suspended after an appeal from his club.
What exactly happened after the memorable game in Milan was published by UEFA on Thursday with the reasons for the verdict.
According to UEFA – Flick roared Doping control officers to: “You have no soul!”
The reasons for the judgment reflect the statements of those involved. Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was among the players who should be tested for doping after the game. “He initially submitted without objection”reports the UEFA delegate for the game according to the verdict. “However, as he made his way to the doping control room, other Barcelona team members shouted for him to return to the locker room.” His teammates pushed him back and shouted: “Fuck UEFA, come here!”
According to the document, UEFA’s doping control officer intervened and reminded Lewandowski of his duty to take part in the test. At this point, Barcelona head coach Hans Flick is said to have been particularly aggressive and shouted: “The winners are in the final, we’re not – you have no soul!” A player and other employees allegedly pushed the doping control officer during this altercation.
Hans-Dieter Flick (l.) with Robert Lewandowski during the game at Inter Milan
The doping controller tried to explain to Flick that the procedure complied with the rules. “But the coach didn’t listen and kept shouting”said the inspector. It was then suggested that the inspector could accompany Lewandowski to the locker room for two minutes before the inspection. But in the meantime, other FC Barcelona players and employees have gathered at the location. “Assistant coach Marcus Sorg shouted that we were not sensitive and didn’t need to test the players because they had lost the game”said the inspector.
Lamine Yamal was also not allowed to be checked
According to the reasons for the verdict, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal was also selected for control. The player was not allowed to go to the control room by his club, but was taken to the dressing room. The information for the inspector was “The coach said that everyone had to go to a meeting and that he couldn’t go to the doping control now”.
Robert Lewandowski (l.) and Lamine Yamal from FC Barcelona
The document also states: “Both Barcelona players were unobserved in the dressing room for around seven minutes.” This is important because UEFA’s anti-doping regulations state: “The player is under constant observation by the inspector or accompanying person from the time of initial contact by the inspector or an accompanying person until the completion of the sample collection.” This is intended to exclude player actions that could change the result of the test using masking means.
Doping in football
Doping is a problem in football as it is in most other sports. Footballers can use performance-enhancing substances to improve their strength and endurance, for example, in order to have advantages in the game. If violations of the doping rules are identified, individual sanctions will initially be imposed against the respective player. Game ratings against a team only come into question when “if more than two players on the team have violated the anti-doping regulations”. This is what it says in the regulations of the world association FIFA, which correspond to the WADA code in this respect.
Barcelona defends itself: “Inspectors were disrespectful”
FC Barcelona defended its employees. The association emphasized “that both coaches explained the situation as a spontaneous reaction in a heated atmosphere”. The behavior of the inspectors is as follows “disrespectful” been perceived, “The tone and behavior were rude and unsympathetic, which contributed to the escalation”.
The club admitted “inappropriate behavior” the two coaches Flick and Sorg and that this is the case “should not repeat”. But at the same time he insisted “that the conduct does not meet the required standard for a violation of the doping rules”. A maximum of one warning is appropriate. The two players were late for the doping control “minimal” been.
Verdict: One game suspension each for Flick and Sorg
The UEFA Disciplinary Chamber banned Flick and Sorg for one game each. These bans were suspended for one year by the UEFA Appeals Chamber following an appeal by the club. Lewandowski and Yamal were each fined €5,000.